The Department of State for Health and Social Welfare (DoSH & SW), in collaboration with Unicef, WHO and NaNa, yesterday, launched

The Gambia’s measles immunisation campaign scheduled from 27th - 3rd December, at the July 22nd Square in Banjul.

In his launching statement, Yankuba Touray, secretary of state for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, who deputised for the President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, described the campaign as an important milestone in government’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of Gambian children.

SoS Touray further described the campaign as a crucial part of the Global Measles Strategic Plan 2003 - 2007, which provides a clear framework for the quick and sustainable elimination of measles in the entire region.

“This year, the focus is again on measles, and as many of you would recall, it is the objective of my government to reduce measles morbidity by 90% and measles mortality by 95%.

Today’s launch and the activities to follow in the week-long campaign are therefore a right step to taking us closer to achieving vital health targets,” SoS Touray said.

According to SoS Touray, this year’s campaign has been preceded by the global polio eradication initiative, in which The Gambia has successfully participated.

He added that it was through this initiative that The Gambia was able to successfully organise seven national immunization days (NIDS), three of which were synchronized with campaigns in sister countries of West and Central Africa.

“It is no secret that measles is a disease that kills children around the world. It is disturbing that the majority of these children are in sub-Saharan Africa, but this situation must be revised. The good news however, is that the disease is vaccine-preventable, and its control therefore is feasible and affordable,” he noted.

SoS Touray revealed that measles is one of nine diseases that The Gambia, through the expanded programme on immunization, is currently vaccinating against. He disclosed that the others are polio, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, yellow fever, hepatitis B, hacmophilus influenza type B, and pertussis also known as whooping cough.

SoS Touray also announced that The Gambia is among the few countries in the sub-region with the largest immunization coverage for many, if not all of these diseases.

Dr Malick Njie, secretary of state for Health and Social Welfare said government attaches great importance to the eradication of measles in The Gambia and has supported the health department to take up this nationwide campaign.

According to SoS Njie, micro-planning initiatives at all levels, human resources, the provision of 238 teams and 220 vehicles, are among their major preparations for this country wide campaign.

He disclosed that their social mobilisation team had earlier on conducted a press briefing on the campaign and also met with mayors, governors, chiefs and alkalolu countrywide to discuss with and sensitize them on the campaign.

He said they are targeting about 246,150 children by the end of the campaign.

Min-whee Kang explained that they have supported DoSH financially with about 800,00 dollars, through their donors, Starwood, which is the umbrella body of Sheraton Hotel, among other international hotel chains.

She called on all parents, government, agencies, and NGOs to actively participate in the campaign.